Netanyahu apologizes for Flotilla massacre, Turkey accepts apology

“Israel” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized on Friday to Turkey for a deadly 2010 flotilla massacre and announced a full resumption of diplomatic ties as well as compensation for the families of those killed.

According to reports, the breakthrough, which ends a nearly three-year diplomatic rift, was engineered by US President Barack Obama at the tail end of a three-day visit to the Zionist entity.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after departing for Amman, a senior US official said the “Israeli” premier apologized to the Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a special phone call from Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv.

“On behalf of “Israelis” he apologized for any deaths those operational mistakes might have caused,” the US official said.

“Prime Minister Erdogan accepted the apology on behalf of Turkey,” he added, saying Obama had also spoken with the Turkish leader.

For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in an interview with Turkish TRT television on Friday, “I always mentioned to my counterparts bringing “Israel” to the line of international law is an important step for “Israel” to be on a correct spot for the peace and finally manage to come to that spot.”

“We made it clear that Turkey will not change its course of action until an apology is issued,” Davutoglu stated. “What appears to you as a surprise is an effort that has been pursued and forged gradually for three years.”

“Israel” and Turkey both confirmed the apology, with Netanyahu’s office announcing a resumption of full diplomatic ties between Tel Aviv and Ankara.

A source close to the Turkish government also confirmed the news. “Apologies have indeed been offered,” he stated.

In May 2010, “Israeli” commandos staged a pre-dawn raid on the six-ship flotilla headed by the Mavi Marmara, in which nine Turkish nationals were martyred.

The assault triggered an international outcry and a bitter diplomatic crisis between “Israel” and Turkey, with Ankara demanding a formal apology and compensation for the families of the victims.

News of the breakthrough was confirmed by Netanyahu’s office in a statement which confirmed the apology and announced a full resumption of diplomatic ties.

And it also confirmed “Israel” would pay compensation to the families of victims.

“The two agreed to return normalization between the countries including returning ambassadors, and cancelling legal procedures against “Israeli” army soldiers,” it said, referring to the high-profile trial in absentia of four top “Israeli” military chiefs by an Istanbul court that opened in November.

“In light of the “Israeli” investigation into the incident, which pointed out several operational errors, Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized to the Turkish people for any errors that could have led to loss of life and agreed to complete the agreement on compensation,” it said.

The “Israeli” PM told Erdogan he had “good conversations with Obama about regional cooperation, and the importance of Turkey-“Israel” relations.”